Conditioner connundrum

[tsenglish@ns.sy]

Here's my quandry. My hair tangles, a lot. Mostly at the ends, so I know it's definately tome for a microtrim. Mut i am wondering about sulicone. Conditioners with silicone make my hair smoother & kess tangly, therefore less breakage, as well as "coating" my hair, therefore "protecting it from damage???" (theory only...grasping at straws right now ). For example, If I have used a silicone conditioner 7 go out in the wind & such, I don't get much tangling & "snapping" when I run my fingers through it. If I use a non-cone conditioner...tangles galore & lots of "snapping"

BUT...

Silicone coats the hair & is hard to remove????therefore dulling my hair and blocking ambient moisture thereby causing dryness leading to splits & brittleness????

help.

can anyone reccomend conditioners that may help with my tangling yest not cause so much damage from build up? I do occaisionally clarify, but conditioners like Pantene build up on me quickly, and I don't want to clarify that often.
I have tried so many salon, imported & drugstore products over the years. maybe GM? I have been thinking a lot about trying GM. I don't know what to do.

[curls2grow]

I've been having good results with DevaCurl One Condition -- it has amodimethicone. I haven't noticed a problem with buildup. I don't use sulfates, but I was informed (nod to CurlyKitten ) that Jessicurl HCC or DevaCurl Low Poo contain "coco betaine" (I think that's the short name for it) type cleanser that is not sulfate-based, but does wash out build-up that can be caused by amodimethicone.

Prior to using OC, I was having problems with tangles too.

[CurlyKitten]

I agree with c2g that amodimethicone is one cone that doesn't seem to cause build-up problems (on me at least). I've also used and liked the Devacurl One Condition. It really seems to be a favorite of curlies for its detangling powers and ability to not build up much.

I am currently experimenting with Garnier conditioners, as they also contain amodimethicone. I'm trying the Long and Strong and the Sleek and Shine conditioners and I like them both. I would probably prefer the One Condition, but so far I haven't had a buildup problem, and my hair is lovely, shiny and smoother. I haven't shampooed at all either and I've been using them everyday for over a week.

Here is a thread I started a few days ago about using oil to clarify cone buildup off your hair. There is a link inside to an article that basically says that oil breaks down the silicone and other junk, keeping it from building up. Maybe that's something you can try.

[Teacherbear]

I swear by Giovanni products. (I have never purchased from that site, but it had a link of many/most of the products so I linked to it).

I currently use 50/50 shampoo, 50/50 conditioner (for deeper conditioning), Smooth As Silk conditioner (for every time my hair is fully wetted down), and Direct Leave In (EVERY time my hair is wetted ANd I have some mixed with distilled water in a spray bottle for me to dampen my hair before doing updos and braids). I also own and use Nutrafixx (deep conditioner), Vitapro Fusion, LA Hold Hair Spritz (hair spray).

The next time I purchase products, I plan to get Smooth As Silk Shampoo, as well as stocking up on the SAS conditioner, Direct Leave in and one of the deeper conditioners.


I'd also like to suggest you consider doing an S&D mission (snipping JUST the split/damaged hairs). This makes a HUGE difference in how my hair does or doesn't tangle/knot. A microtrim (dusting) helps, but the S&D is very effective on knotting/tangles.

Hope that helps.

[tsenglish@ns.sy]

Thank you for all of the helpful replies

curls2grow, I had considered trying Deva One condition as well (reccomended on NC.com). I currently use Jessicurl HCC (& Too Shea, & weekly DT as well as my beloved Aveda Sap moss which is also sulfate free.

CurlyKitten, Thanks for the heads up on the garnier too! and for seconding the Deva.

Teacherbear, thanks for the Giovanni recs, I believe I have a few packet-samples of the direct leavi in & 50/50 shampoo or condish somewhere under my sink, I got them the last time I bought my Avalon. I'll definately give them a try. I've booked with my "long-hair-friendly" stylist for a dusting next weekend (she always searches for splits for me, thankfully, I don't get many) that should really help too.

[daeana]

i've yet to have a problem with silicones.

Herbal Essences is cone free. i absolutely love their conditioner for uber-damaged/dry hair.

i circumvent any potential build-up by never using the same thing twice in a row. and by same thing, i mean brand, not just same bottle.

[CurlyBrunette]

Originally Posted by daeana

i've yet to have a problem with silicones.

Herbal Essences is cone free. i absolutely love their conditioner for uber-damaged/dry hair.

I agree, some people dont have problems with silicones. I also use One Condition and have no problems. I shampoo once a week so its hard for it to build up. I have also noticed that when I use cones (not heavily) there is less tangling and breakage. If you use a leave-in before you apply any product with cones I dont think you will have the damage that silicone serum users have that apply it heavily every single day.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a cone that doesnt agree with my hair at all so I shy away from it. It also is in most of the Herbal Essences Conditioners.

[daeana]

sorry, sometimes i forget that different formulations have different ingredients.

the one i use is the protection one for color treated/permed/dry/damaged hair. it's pink. ingredients:
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Thyme Extract ((Thymus Vulgaris)), Tocopherol, Wheat Germ Oil ((Triticum Vulgare)), Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Dihydroxpropyl PEG-5 Linoleamimum Chloride, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, D&C Orange 4, FD&C Red 4

i love organic

[tsenglish@ns.sy]

Thanks ladies!

If you use a leave-in before you apply any product with cones I dont think you will have the damage that silicone serum users have that apply it heavily every single day.

The thing is, I don't use any styling producst at all, so I am not at all worried about silicone in them
And my leave-in condish is Aveda Elixir which has one water soluable cone in it. i think I need a cone in my rinse out condish too, but not Cyclopentasiloxane, every considh I've used that has this in it has caused problems for me. I think I will order the Deva one C, as well as maybe the GM too. When I look back at the problems hat silicones have caused me in the past (I;ve been cone-free as well as product free for a year now) like All Soft, these products had more than one cone in them, and I used the shampoo which has cones & probaly a mousse with coned (unbeknownst to me at the time ).

[Ursula]

There is a lot of variation in what does or doesn't work for different heads of hair.

My best suggestion is to work out systematic experiments. Try oils, without 'cones or protein, for a while, and see how your hair does. Try 'cones, but systematically, using each product for a week or two and tracking what type of 'cones. Try proteins, in small amounts, for a while, etc.

Testing a product should last at least two weeks, unless a product gives you an immediate problem. Sometimes, a product can be good for the first use, but problems crop up with it a week or two down the line. If you've gone on with other experiments in the meantime, it would be hard to track down which product is causing the problem, and you'd be more likely to blame the new experiement than to realize the connection with the old one.

[icydove]

I CO and I use a second conditioner that has light cones. I haven't had any noticable problem with build-up, damage or moisturization (in fact, I have finally reached the point where my ends are no longer dry!) I do ACV rinses once a week, but people are split on whether it actually clarifies or not. I do use jojoba oil as part of a leave-in, but it is hard to believe the 2 drops I use is enough to clarify. Who knows?

If your hair breaks without using silicone, I think you are better off using it compared to the potential problems.